Venetian blind construction



1942- R. H. WRIGHT 2,292,001

VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 26, 1942 v i T Q T fr rm Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Richard II. Wright, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application February 26, 1942, Serial No. 432,518

13 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blind construction, and, more particularly, to a form of Venetian blind designed to prevent the penetration of light through the slats thereof, when the slats are adjusted to a closed position.

Under the present circumstances prevailing, in which it is desired to provide windows with blackout means, whereby the light interiorly of a room ina. building or residence. is to be prevented from passing through the windows, or the like, it is necessary to provide means within the window frame or frames, and preferably means which are adjustable with simplicity, and which do not require thatspecial constructions be designed to accomplish the black-out phase, particularly, in window frames in which Venetian blinds at the present time are mounted.

As is well known, the ordinary Venetian blind is limited in its closing action by the lifting means, so-called, generally in the form of cords or ropes at spaced intervals along the length of the blind generally near the ends thereof, and in addition, the fact that there are of necessity supporting means provided on the tapes associated with the blind, and which likewise prevent complete closing of the slats under most conditions. Various types of blinds are provided at the present time, some employing slats formed from wood or fibre, or in a great many cases today, the popular metal slat construction.

It is desirable, therefore, to provide means to effect a complete closing action on the part of existing blinds with a minimum amount of extra expense and be able to attach these means to the blinds in a relatively simple manner.

In accordance with the above set forth objects, the Venetian blind construction proposed in this application contemplates employing the standard or existing Venetian blinds and providing closing members adapted to be clampingly engaged with an edge or edges of the slats whereby when the slats are turned to their closed position, these closing members will effectively prevent the passage of light between the slats and thus eliminate the possibility of outlining the window in light which would normally escape from the interior of a room through a blind.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a resilient member adapted to be attached i or detached from the edges of the slats whereby the closing functions are desirably accomplished.

A further object of this invention is to provide closing members adapted to be attached or detached to any material from which the slat of a iii Venetian blindis formed and likewise to be detached therefrom under certain conditions.

Another and more particular object of this invention is to provide resilient strips of material, having incorporated therein along a surface an adhesive whereby the strips may be fixed proximate the edges of the slats, and thereby come into contact with the adjacent slat when the slats are moved to closed positions.

Further and more particular objects of this invention will be set forth in the accompanying disclosure in the specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate various views of one embodiment-of the invention; Figure 1 is an end view showing the closing members engaged with edges of slats, certain portions of the Figure 1 being broken away, since they are not necessary in the disclosure; Figure 2 is an end view showing the slats turned towards closed position, whereby the closing members are brought into contact with adjacent slats to thus prevent the escape of light therebetween; Figure 3' is a view taken about on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, disclosing certain notched out portions of the closing members more particularly described hereinafter, the inner tape having been removed.

Figures 4, Sand 6 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which the closing members are provided upon opposite edges of the slats to effect a light precluding action; Figure 4 is an end view with the slats in their fully opened position; Figure 5 is an end view showing the slats moved to, closed position and the closing members interlocked or interengaged to preclude the passage of light therebetween; and Figure 6 is an elevational view along about the line 6--6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows showing, a notched-out portion of the closing members adjacent the supporting tape, the inner tape having been removed.

Figure 6a is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the closing members availed of in Figures 4, 5 and 6.

Figures 7 and 8 disclose another embodiment of the invention in which resilient members are provided on opposite edges of the slat, Figure 8 being an elevational view illustrating the notched-out portions necessary to be provided and with the inner tape removed.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a head rail I, having suspended therebeneath on suitable brackets 2, a tilt rail 3, the tilt rail 3 having demeans, not'here illustrated, since it may be of standard and well known type, whereby the tilt rail 3 may be moved to and from the slat closing position by tilting the same.

Adapted to engage the inner edges of the slats I are the closing members generally denoted 9, which may be substantially L-shaped members, having gripping portions I0 and II, adapted to receive therebetween the rear edges of the slats I, and likewise, being provided with a projecting portion [2 for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. It is, of course, apparent that the closing members 9 will be placed along the inner edges of the slats 6 throughout their length and may generally be formed of rubber, or the like, and .thus the gripping portions l0 and II will frictionally be held in engagement with the inner edge of the slat I.

Referring now to Figure 2 in which the blind has been moved to its closed position, it will be noted that the upper portions [2 of the L-shaped closing members have now been moved into engagement with the lower surfaces of adjacent slats, and under certain conditions, in view of the resiliency of these members, they will be bent and thus frictionally engage the surfaces of the slats, wherefore to preclude the penetration of light between the same and thus effect the blackout function desired.

In Figure 3 is shown the notched-out portion I3 there being, of course, notched-out portions provided for each lifting cord whereby when the slats I are moved to their closed position, the

resilient L-shaped closing member, whose upper portion l2 projects from the surface of the slat I, will receive in the notch l3 the lift cord or rope 8, and thus permit a relatively complete closing action of the slat members without distorting the cord by which th blind is lifted, and thus ease of operation is effected. It is, of course, apparent that these notched-out portions I3 are between or interiorly of the supporting tapes 4 and .5, whereby any light is not possible of penetration to the outer surface of the blind in view of the opacity of the supporting tapes.

It is, of course, likewise obvious that these resilient closing members 9 may be provided upon both the inner and outer edges of the slats, and when they are so provided, the member 9 placed along the outer edge of the slat 'I will generally be positioned so that the projecting member l2 projects in an opposite direction to that of the closing member on the interior edge of the slat.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, there is similarly provided, as in the foregoing showing, a head rail I, and a tilt rail 3 supported on a bracket 2, and having the depending inner and outer tape members 4 and 5 respectively, In accordance with the general ladder tape construction, there are provided the web members 6 supporting thereon the slats I. Ther is, of course, generally furnished a tiltin means, not

shown, to effect the tilting action of the tilt rail 3 toward open and closed positions as desired, and likewise a raising and lowering means generally in the form of a cord or similar instrumentality 8 is provided, the same passing downwardly from the head rail I through openings formed in the slat I, normally about centrally thereof. In this embodiment of the invention, closing members 14 are provided being in the form of substantially L-shaped members, These members will be formed of metal or similar relatively. hard material, the lower portion of the L-shaped member being bifurcated to provide the gripping portions I5 and I6, adapted to have inserted therebetween the slat I and to be held in engagement with the slats by the resilient formation of the bifurcated portions.

Similarly to the previously described embodiment, an upright closing portion II is provided and adapted to operate in a manner to be here inafter described.

As is shown in the drawing, the closing member I4 is provided adjacent the forward edge or outer edge of the slats I, having the bifurcated portions I5 and I6, and a closing member II. However, in this instance, the closing member projects in a direction opposite that of the previously mentioned closing member for purposes that will be set forth in a description of the operation of the blind in connection with which Figure 5 is referred to.

In Figure 5, the tilt rail 3 is shown as having been moved to a substantially perpendicular position thereby raising the inner tape 4 in the conventional manner and consequently the slats I are likewise moved toward a substantially vertical position, carrying with them the closing members I 4. Since the closing members on adjacent slats project in opposite directions from the surfaces thereof, it will be apparent that by properly locating the ladder members appropriate distances from one another, the arms or projecting members I I will become interengaged and thereby prevent light in the interior of a room, or the like from escaping outwardly, and thereby illuminate a window.

The black-out function sought is thus accomplished in a unique manner, and, as is necessary in this particular construction, Figure 6 shows the notched-out portion l8 adapted to receive therein the lift cord or rope 8, and likewise, the latter members 6, whereby the complete closing action desired may be obtained,

Passing now to the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, there is merely illustrated here one slat I having provided near opposite edges and on the surface of the slat, resilient members I9, which may be made of felt-like material, or in some cases, sponge rubber, where obtainable, and having on their inner surfaces 20 adhesive ma terial, whereby the closing members I9 may be affixed to the surfaces of the slats in any desired position.

As is apparent, the action of the slats with respect to one another is very similar to that shown in Figure 5, when they are moved to their closed position, and there is likewise provided adjacent the lift cords 8, notched-out portions 2|, whereby the lift cords are received in the resilient members I9.

It is, of course, apparent that many other materials might be used to provide the necessary complete closing action desired, as set forth in the above description of several embodiments of the invention, but it is not believed necessary to further set forth any particular material since the invention resides primarily in the provision of closing members on or near edges of the slats whereby when the slats are moved toward closed positions. the closing members will effectively prevent the escape of light outwardly of a room, whereby the window would be illuminated in a disadvantageous manner.

Under certain conditions, where light might possibly escape around the ends of the slats, vertical hinged members may be provided for the window frame at the sides thereof, adapted to be folded over the said edges, to preclude pas sage of light thereabout, but since these instrumentalities are not claimed as a part of this invention, the same are not illustrated, herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the Unitedfitates, is:

1. In Venetian blind construction, in combinatioma head bar, tilt bar, means for tilting the same, spaced supporting tapes depending from the tilt bar, a plurality of slats supported on said tapes, means for raising and lowering the slats, and closing members extending substantially the entire length of the slats, projecting from said slats and at an angle thereto for closing the light spaces between the slats, whereby when the slats are turnedtoward the closed position said closing members will contact next adjacent slats and light will be prevented from passing therebetween.

2. Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing members comprise resilient material having gripping portions engaging the edges of the slats.

3. Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein each closing member comprises a strip of resilient material having gripping portions adapted to engage an edge of the slat with which it is associated, and other portions are adapted to engage the surface of the slat next adjacent thereto when the slats are moved to closed position.

4. Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lifting means comprise lift cords, or the like, and the closing members are provided with notched-out portions adapted to receive the cords therein when the slats are in closed relationship.

5. Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing members are strips of material fixed adjacent the edges of the slats by an adhesive.

6. Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closing members comprise strips of resilient material fixed adjacent at least one edge of each slat.

7. Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein each closing member comprises a substantially L-shaped member, one of the portions thereof bein bifurcated to provide a gripping portion whereby the edge of a slat may be received therebetween, and spaced notches are formed in the other portion of said L-shaped member, adapted to receive the means for raising and lowering the slats thereinwhen the slat is moved toward closed position.

8. in Venetian blind construction, in combination, a head bar, tilting means associated therewith, a tilt bar operable by said means,

comprising substantially L-shaped members, one

of the arms of which engages the edge of the slat with which it is associated, and the other of said arms projects away from the surface of said slot, the direction of projection of the arm of the front closing member being substantially opposite the direction of projection of said rear closing member, whereby when the slats are moved to closed position, projecting arms of adjacent slats will become interengaged and prevent light from escaping therebetween.

9. In Venetian blind construction, in combination, a head bar, tilting means associated therewith, a tilt bar operable by said means, spaced front and rear supporting tapes depending therefrom, a plurality of slats supported by ladders or webs between said tapes, said slats having front and rear edges, means for raising and lowering said slats, detachable front and rear closing member comprising substantially L- shaped members having gripping portions engaged with the edges of the slat with which each member is associated, the other of said arms projecting away from the surface of the slat, the said projecting arms on the front and rear closing members projecting in substantially opposite directions, whereby when the slats are moved to closed position, the projectin arms of adjacent slats will be substantially coextensive and prevent the escape of light therebetween.

10. In Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 9, the projecting arms of the closing members are formed with notched-out portions adapted to receive the ladders or webs therein.

11. In Venetian blind construction, in combination, a blind unit comprising the usual tiltable slats adjustable relatively to each other for control of passing of light therethrough, and closing members projecting laterally from said slats adjacent to the opposite horizontal edges thereof, said closing members of one slat adapted to contact at their free edge portion with the sides of slats above and below said first slat, said closing members extending substantially the entire length of each slat to which they are applied.

12. A Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 11, wherein the closing members are formed with detachable connections between the portions thereof opposite their free edges, and the edges of the slats with which the closing members are connected.

13. A Venetian blind construction as claimed in claim 11, in which the closing members extend substantially at right angles to the edges of the slat at which they are disposed, and in which said closin members are formed with integral portions detachably engaged and gripping said slat edges.

RICHARD H. WRIGHT. 

